Christina Rivera of Crumbs bakery with tray of red velvet cupcakes, the object of its landlord's sweet tooth.

A Manhattan landlord slipped a sweet stipulation into the lease of its new tenant, popular bakery chain Crumbs.

When drafting the lease for the shop at 880 Third Ave. last fall, landlord Jack Resnick & Sons requested a dozen of Crumbs' renowned cupcakes be delivered to its monthly sales meetings.

"It's a rider, as official as any of the others," Crumbs owner Jason Bauer said. "I obviously picked it up on the first read and got a chuckle."

Bauer didn't just give lip service to the sweet-toothed provision. Crumbs staff get a call or e-mail each month including the date of the sales meeting, and a dozen of the treats are sent over, always with one red velvet cupcake.

Bauer suspects the stipulation was "most likely to be cute," but he acknowledges the landlord did make a few typical concessions in the lease, such as a better price per square foot and a free month's rent during store construction.

Either way, Bauer appreciates the personal touch.

"I wish all landlords took an interest in our business the way they do. It's a nice change," he said. "Most landlords, you pay your rent and that's it."

Jack Resnick & Sons declined to comment on the lease.

Bauer and his wife, Mia, opened their first Crumbs location in 2003 and have watched the chain explode, with 19 locations in four states and seven more in development.

Despite a dip in corporate catering due to the recession, Bauer said Crumbs has been thriving, with sales in its shops rising 25% over last year.

"I think our product is an affordable luxury. You might not go out for an expensive dinner, but you can bring six cupcakes home to your family and still be a hero," Bauer said.